The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-09-13
IN THE JUNGLES.
A Two Months Hunt in the For
eStS of Brazil.
BIRDS AND REPTILES THAT WERE SEEN

NEW YORK, August 22.-Clarence B. Riker,
OF south Orange member of the American Orni-
Ihologlcal society, has Just returned from two
Brazil
MY wife and l." said Mr. Riker to o reporter to-
uhy' went by steamer from here to Para, at the
mouth OF the Amazon There we CHANGED to a
sluaer steamboat that took up the river 500 miles
10 santaIen. There we took canoes and were pad
aled by indian boys through miles of narrow cham
nes that wind in aud out Though q vast region Of
hoooe forest After we had gone as far as we could
IN canoes, an OK cart backed hub deep into the
water aildw transferred ourselves and baggage to
IT. Wethen rode along well beaten paths extend-
ihg for miles through magnificent timber Tho
oehse foliage made perfect shade, !
ahd'the paths were rs hard as or roads, When we
arrived at the plantation which we had decided to
make our headquarters, we found q comfortable
mouse with concrete walls, tiled roof and ham
meek beds The planters have fowls swine and
cattle, ami raise the principal vegetables and fruits
that we have, aud the seeds of the palm tree are
made into various nourishing dishes. One of tho
staple articles of food is fish called pirarucu II ~
uried for market and resembles Goldfish. The ma
yves live almost entirely on bananas and iainha, II
course meal made from the maudloca root. Many
OF the planters raise sugar enne and from it make
whisky to supply the rubber gatherers. The fer
mented juice ofthe palm is another drink used by
the natives and a delicious wine is made from
NUT called cau and also from juice extracted from
ti'S pup the cocoa bean, THIS drink
is universally liked by foreigners but for the others
one must acquiie TASTE There are very few
mosquitoes but there are some things worse
Inc moooene, an almost microscopic insect clngs
to the flesh, and if not removed by rum or lemon
1hlce causes severe imitation. Large vampire bats
often fly in one's face at night They are four times
the size OF our bats Many natives bear scars from
their teeth. 4arantulas were frequently seen on
the Nerapda and sometimes in the house Their
bite Is not considered deadly, but the minute hairs
fI1qfV I,asIN fu
cause terrible irritation If we left the doors of tho
house open at night, large tGads weighing a pound
ana hall apiece would hop in. One night my wife
was awakegcd by hearing some an NAL moving in
the room. We could soc nothing, but from the
sound we were sure at must be tiger or at least
wildcat on striking It light it turned our to be a
'possum. Algators were plentiful in the brook
near the house, aud deadly snake called the SRA
cucu is frequently found crouching in the pnths OF
the forest. We captured Il boa constructor
twentytw feet long. Ea'tesnakes are numerous
on the campos or open plains. Leaving my wife Mt
the plantation made excursions into the forest in
search of birds and insects generally went with
three or tour other Americans and several Indian
guides. At night the Indians would make a
matched house out OF palm leaves. When thirsty
we would cut the root OF the tapereba which is hol-
low and contains nearly pint ofwater. Game was
plenty. There We're wild hogs, tapils monkeys
wild turkeys, peeoares and great variety of birdie
we frequently saw the tracks of aguaIs near our
nut, but did not meet any of them. To Obtain some
rare specimens of birds we penetrated far into the
depth of tho forest measured one palm leaf and
found 1T to be forty feet in length. There were rose
wood mahogany, and many woods not found else
where. In tie flooded districts | saw sloths
hanging upside down and feeding on the leaves Of
trees Numerous butterflies brightly eolored, and
birds with brilliant plumage abound And on the
banks of the rivers ut evening saw thousands OF
white egres was very successful in collecting as
brought back over 300 birds 10 600 insects and the
skeletons of nneaers, sloths, American tigers scr
| penis and many other animals. obtained a bow
and five arrows captured in fight between rubber
| packers and a tribe of pariHtutin Indians who mad
| attacked them. These Indians perfectly wild
and live in the deep iecesgcs Of the forest Theyare
cannibals. also brought home young tiger Its
| mother was shot while feeding on an OK which she
had killed. To keep the tiger company brought u
large coatia or spider monkey. He was caught hen
young, ana is now entirely domesticated,"